Wifi dropping problem

[WalksWithChrist]

So I've got a Samsung Series 3 laptop running an i3 chip. My wifi connection at home keeps dropping. I've got a new model Airport Extreme and all other devices (iPad, wife's Compaq laptop, Apple TV, and Sony Blu Ray player) all work fine with wifi.

And I'm dropping connection more frequently now. All I have to do is disconnect and reconnect and I'm back up and running again. I'll stay connected for up to 30 minutes before wifi drops again.

I do take my laptop to work and it stays connected fine to an older Airport Express (not Extreme). Rock solid. So it's obviously some issue between the Extreme and this laptop's wifi. I did a little Googling, but I've not found much so far. I did recently update to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8.

Any input?

 

[paul1149]

Make sure your drivers are up to date. If that doesn't help I would change the channel the wifi broadcasts on.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

Just a thought, take a look at your power saving settings as this can make things like wifi drop its signal if the laptop goes into a reduced power state. This behavior would make sense if you plug into the mains power at work but stay unplugged a bit at home.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

Make sure your drivers are up to date. If that doesn't help I would change the channel the wifi broadcasts on.

Just a thought, take a look at your power saving settings as this can make things like wifi drop its signal if the laptop goes into a reduced power state. This behavior would make sense if you plug into the mains power at work but stay unplugged a bit at home.

I'm going to try this first, and then check drivers if that doesn't help. I did read a bit about channels at some point, so I will keep that in mind as well. And channels would address why I'm having this problem only at home.
I think it may be a power setting thing as this does seem to happen most often when I'm watching something on Netflix. That makes sense.

Thanks very much. When I'm at home, it's usually very busy and loud and I have a hard time concentrating on stuff like this!
I really needed the sounding board.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

I'm going to try this first, and then check drivers if that doesn't help. I did read a bit about channels at some point, so I will keep that in mind as well. And channels would address why I'm having this problem only at home.

Usually in built up areas you might find your neighbors wireless access points can be interfering with your signal if both access points are set to the same channel then fallout and/or degraded signals will result. It's like dropping two stones in a pond and watching the ripples made from each stone, where the stone falls in the water the wave is strong and progressively weakens - if the waves from each stone collide then the waves are basically cancelled out (assuming each wave is the same magnitude).

With bog standard 2.4GHz access points you only have 3 truly independent channels, these are channels 1, 6 and 11. I think most access points are set to channel 6 by default so choosing either 1 or 11 may help. You could choose any channel from 1 to 11 but if you choose channel 3 for example then you risk interference from both channel 1 and 6 as they overlap channel 3 - see this wikipedia page for more info.

Another solution to avoid overcrowding of the 2.4GHz spectrum is to avoid it and go for a 5GHz capable access point but you will need the same 5GHz capability in your devices wireless card too.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

Usually in built up areas you might find your neighbors wireless access points can be interfering with your signal if both access points are set to the same channel then fallout and/or degraded signals will result. It's like dropping two stones in a pond and watching the ripples made from each stone, where the stone falls in the water the wave is strong and progressively weakens - if the waves from each stone collide then the waves are basically cancelled out (assuming each wave is the same magnitude).

With bog standard 2.4GHz access points you only have 3 truly independent channels, these are channels 1, 6 and 11. I think most access points are set to channel 6 by default so choosing either 1 or 11 may help. You could choose any channel from 1 to 11 but if you choose channel 3 for example then you risk interference from both channel 1 and 6 as they overlap channel 3 - see this wikipedia page for more info.

Another solution to avoid overcrowding of the 2.4GHz spectrum is to avoid it and go for a 5GHz capable access point but you will need the same 5GHz capability in your devices wireless card too.

Thanks for the info. I'm pretty light on wifi experience.

 

[Vince53]

I'm going to give you three common causes of your problem, but there's no way to tell if any of them are correct:

1) You're getting interference from some other device, including a HiD TV.
2) When you upgraded to Windows 8.1, you lost your drivers and are now operating on generic drivers.
3) You are set onto a Power Save scheme that turns off your WiFi when your power gets low.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

The power setting didn't do anything. I'm working on updating the drivers now. Samsung's website isn't Chrome friendly! I am having to use IE (which I hate) to see what drivers they have...and they don't have any Windows 8 updates listed for my Series 3 model laptop.
I checked Windows Update and there is actually a driver for the chipset. I'll run this update and see if that helps.

 

[awitch]

I doubt it's a driver or power issue. Sounds more like interference to me.
You can get the free program inSSIDer to detect all the available networks and switch to the best channel. If the WAP doesn't have an auto detection you can use this link determine which one to use.

First responder equipment and cordless phones may also interfere.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

I doubt it's a driver or power issue. Sounds more like interference to me.
You can get the free program inSSIDer to detect all the available networks and switch to the best channel. If the WAP doesn't have an auto detection you can use this link determine which one to use.

First responder equipment and cordless phones may also interfere.

I finally got some free time that corresponded with our iPad being free. I now know how to switch channels using the AirPort utility on the iPad, I just need to figure out which channel to use. Does it matter? And if I switch channels, will it affect other devices like the iPad and the other laptop?

 

[awitch]

I finally got some free time that corresponded with our iPad being free. I now know how to switch channels using the AirPort utility on the iPad, I just need to figure out which channel to use. Does it matter? And if I switch channels, will it affect other devices like the iPad and the other laptop?

Which channel you use will depend on how many other wifi networks you are competing with and which channels they use. I suggest trying 1, 6, or 11.

The devices you use don't need any special configuration to find the channel.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

Which channel you use will depend on how many other wifi networks you are competing with and which channels they use. I suggest trying 1, 6, or 11.

The devices you use don't need any special configuration to find the channel.

I've been having a few other issues with this laptop (Chrome is freezing a lot, simple thing like right-clicking the Desktop takes forever to bring up the menu, wifi dropping, won't disconnect USB devices, etc.) lately, so I decided to do a full system restore back to Windows 7. I never really liked Win 8 to begin with, so no love lost there.


The system restore went very well and no wifi drops at all in two days! So it apparently wasn't a channel issue. Probably a flaky Win 8 wifi driver for that particular model laptop. I've read that others have had similar problems.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[EphesiaNZ]

The system restore went very well and no wifi drops at all in two days! So it apparently wasn't a channel issue. Probably a flaky Win 8 wifi driver for that particular model laptop. I've read that others have had similar problems.

Yep, sound about right. One of my daughters laptops which is only 18 months old has had flaky wifi since upgrading to 8 - I'm still suprised that there are one or two drivers still missing on Win8 for her laptop! I think the term for this is called progress...

 

[paul1149]

I've found a lot of times, though not always, that the specific hardware maker has better drivers than the computer OEM.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

I've found a lot of times, though not always, that the specific hardware maker has better drivers than the computer OEM.

Trouble is sometimes that OEM's change the identification string in the hardwares code making it difficult for a driver to see that its the actual hardware for that original vendors driver.

 

[awitch]

The system restore went very well and no wifi drops at all in two days! So it apparently wasn't a channel issue. Probably a flaky Win 8 wifi driver for that particular model laptop. I've read that others have had similar problems.

Wow, I'm surprised. Just curious: Were you using the Windows driver (out of the box or Widows Update), or the manufacturer's driver from their website?

 

[WalksWithChrist]

Wow, I'm surprised. Just curious: Were you using the Windows driver (out of the box or Widows Update), or the manufacturer's driver from their website?

Manufacturer LOL. It was beyond difficult to get any drivers from the Samsung website. I'd go to the driver page for the laptop model and it'd have me download some driver update software that didn't work. It was an exercise in futility.

I was using drivers from Windows Update.

Still not a single wifi connection drop on Windows 7. Not one. And all the other issues I was having are still gone. I'm pretty happy.

 

[If Not For Grace]

It never ceases to amaze me how everytime they upgrade something - something fouls up with either me or several people I know-I'm glad you got it working

 

[WalksWithChrist]

It never ceases to amaze me how everytime they upgrade something - something fouls up with either me or several people I know-I'm glad you got it working

Thanks. Next time I think about upgrading, I'll remind myself of the old "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" saying.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

Thanks. Next time I think about upgrading, I'll remind myself of the old "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" saying.

You sound like a Linux user

Seriously, that saying is pretty spot on. It's amazing how much we put to waste today. Upgrading must be planned else you are planning for trouble!